why bother - a disturbing trend

[historian]

Ive noticed that whenever I post anything related to throwing facts at freepers (which has worked with a couple of locals lately) the most common answer i receive is "why bother?" It might seem pointless but if nothing had ever been done to question and attempt to improve conditions we would be living in a far worse world.
Its important to remember that most americans are appallingly ignorant of the world around them and have been spoon fed the myth of america the wonderful, feeding the world and caring for the poor huddled masses which, as we all know, is a bunch of nonsense. An ignorant person's refuge is in his own beliefs since he cannot face facts.
Here is a good example. The french revolution was carried out by mobs of illiterate citizens who would never have been able to think that through. Once the situation was hammered home they rose. Ditto the Russian revolution and may i add the american revolution.
I personally keep hammering. Regardless of whether you are rejected or not the day is coming when they will all feel the pain at the gas pump, loss of jobs, more corporate theft, the eventual rise of taxes to pay for the revenue lost to corporations who dont pay taxes and to pay for the deficit and they will begin to link our ideas with the facts they now have to deal with.

[MissB]

1. I agree - at least one can hope to cause

a wee bit of cognitive dissonance. And that they'll resolve that cognitive dissonance by realizing that what they have believed about their world view may be wrong.

[drthais]

2. I have found

at least in my corner of the world
(deep south)

that freepers are only interested
in whether the candidate opposes abortion
and gay marriage
and I am not kidding about this:

if Bush opposes abortion, he gets their vote
end of story
no more conversation

the only hope is to get these folks
to see that, were this the only burning issue
that would be a my-side/your-side vote
but this issue is SO on the back burner
and there are much larger issues at hand this time

[havocmom]

3. What is really fun and productive is hitting a freeper with facts

when there are other witnesses to see the ridiculous spinning and lack of logic that will meet your facts. Probably not gonna convert the freeper, but is sure gives witnesses something to chew on. :evilgrin:

[zbdent]

4. Yes, but you can also try to teach a pig to sing

It wastes your time and annoys the pig.

[havocmom]

6. singing pigs is not my aim

It is the witnesses to the debate one can teach. Thus my point: never try to change the mind of a freeper one on one. Always have an audience. That way your good points and the freeper's pointless spin are held up for comparison by people who will be swayed by that comparison.

[drfemoe]

5. The American Revolution

was "carried out by mobs of illerterate citizens"?

Lots of freepers read DU. Then they go to their pitiful little websites and make fun of liberals. It gives them something to do with their pathetic hate filled lives. They could learn if they wanted to. Frankly, I think most freepers are full of fear and, indeed, enmeshed in mob mentality.

If you want to spread the truth at your local level, go for it.
Personlly, I think most who engage in internet wars with them have ego issues, and are wasting their time.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Some of us are a little battle weary lately.

The constant attacks from the conservative commandos can be draining and I occasionally need to take a little why bother breather to regain my strength. It's just a short term self-preservation tactic...not to worry though. :)

[maggrwaggr]

8. in my experience it's like arguing with a schizophrenic

about those men in black that picked her up and gave her the anal probes.

There's no way to argue against someone who is willing to believe that all other facts contrary to their positions are lies.

Believe me, I've tried. I've tried both. I've tried to confront schizophrenics with facts (gently) and I've tried to rationally and calmly present freeper-types with facts.

The results are strikingly similar.

If you can have success with it, more power to you

[blm]

9. I'm with you. Keep hammering.

.

[gpandas]

10. also it's human nature...

to refuse to admit that one was wrong, and freepers have been shown wrong about so many issues that to admit even once their failure is to threaten the entire house of cards they dwell in. i've never met a repug who admits any mistake, maybe er, ah, um, it's the pressure.

[seabeyond]

11. becausei am raising two little boys

i have heard that too. and when i here why bother, in all seriousness and calm adn looking right into the eyes, i bother because i have two little boys that live in this world. i bother for them

there is silence with that. i assure you. stops all and they think